THE NEW Bronx Business News You Can Use BXCC -

 

Legislative Updates, New Grants, Events and Much More Please click View/Allow Images so you don't miss a thing!

In this weeks Friday Extra, President Lisa Sorin talks about: Key to NYC: This policy is in effect as of August 17, and enforcement will begin on September 13. Businesses that do not comply with this policy will be subject to fines. Intro 2390 will make the temporary fee cap for third-party delivery fees PERMANENT. As a reminder, this will permanently cap fees charged by third-party delivery companies at 5% for listing and marketing a restaurant on their platform, and an additional 15% for conducting the physical delivery of food and beverage.  Previously approved outdoor structures are being re-inspected by DOT resulting in some restaurants having a cease and desist order until structures meet the requirements of said inspectors. Better communication with DOT and business owners is a must! Reach out to the chamber for help. Proposed zoning change to legalize dancing across NYC. This is a big step as these restrictions historically had a disproportionate impact on Black, Latino + LGBTQ+ communities. Click here to learn more.

Available Growth & Recovery Grants

Updates to the Small Business Recovery Grant

Governor Hochul increased the threshold for small businesses to qualify for the Small Business Recovery Grant through Empire State Development. Previously any business with gross receipts in excess of $500,000 were ineligible to receive this Small Business Recovery grant. As of today, the threshold for eligibility has been increased to 2.5 million dollars. This increase will now open-up a wide range of now eligible businesses to qualify for up to $50,000 in grant funds to reimburse business expenses incurred during 2020/21 to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more, click here.

NYC Small Business Resource Network: Open + Online

Your business needs a great website. The Network can build it for you. Apply for a FREE new website at SMALLBIZ.NYC as part of our NYC Small Biz: Open + Online program! Congratulations to Priscilla Dominguez on her FREE website provided by the NYC Small Business Resource Network. Click HERE to view website.

eBay Up and Running Grants

eBay is giving back to the small businesses powering America. In partnership with Hello Alice, eBay is awarding more than $500,000 in grants and education resources to help small businesses stay up and running into 2022 and beyond.  The application opened August 6, 2021, and closes September 3, 2021, at 6 p.m. ET. Grantees will be selected via a panel, and announcements will be made about recipients in November. The Up & Running Grants are open to existing eBay sellers with active listings in the past 6 months who have an “above standard” or “top rated” performance level, and new eBay business sellers who have joined the platform between October 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021.   For full eligibility requirements, see the official rules.

Restaurant Return To Work Tax Credit

The $35 million Restaurant Return-to-Work Tax Credit Program provides an incentive to COVID-impacted restaurants to bring restaurant staff back-to-work, and to increase hiring at NYS restaurants. Qualifying businesses are eligible for a tax credit of $5,000 per new worker hired, up-to $50,000 per business. The Program is open to eligible restaurants located in New York City, or in an area outside of New York City that was designated an Orange or Red Zone for at least thirty consecutive days.  To be responsive to the needs of COVID-impacted restaurants, the Restaurant Return-to-Work Tax Credit provides a Fast Track Option, which allows a business to claim the credit before the end of the tax year.  Restaurants may claim the credit after August 31, 2021 (Fast Track Option), if the business can demonstrate a net employee increase of at least 1 full-time employee as measured from April 1, 2021 to August 31, 2021. Alternatively, restaurants can choose to claim the tax credit on their 2021 NYS tax return if the business can demonstrate a net employee increase of at least 1 full-time employee as measured from April 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.

What You Should Know

Deadline Approaching for HERO Act Employee Notification

The HERO Act requires employers to adopt and maintain an airborne infectious disease prevention plan to be implemented when an airborne infectious disease is designated by the New York State Commissioner of Health as a “highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health.”   The deadline for communicating the existence of your plan to your employees is Saturday, September 4, 2021.   Learn more about the HERO Act deadline and find sample language you can use to implement your plan.

Upcoming Events

Key to NYC Guidelines & Resources to Help Your Business

On Wednesday, September 1 at 5PM, the Bronx Chamber is joining NYC Department of Small Business Services for a FREE webinar to learn more about Key to NYC guidelines and resources available to help your business. The webinar will examine the guidelines and provide resources that are available to help your business adapt to a changing business environment. Learn more and register for the webinar by clicking here.

Hutchinson Metro Center: 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE Join the Hutchinson Metro Center for a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony. The memorial is located in the plaza near the entrance to the Marriott Hotel at 1776 Eastchester Road.   Thursday, September 9th, 2021 at 11am The 9/11 Memorial Ceremony will be live on the below platforms ·       BronxNet TV ch. 67 Optimum / 2133 Fios ·       Bronxnet.tv ·       FB Live @BronxNetTV ·       FB Live @TheNewBronxChamberofCommerce ·        Instagram Live @thenewbxcc

Upcoming: Bronx Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala

Mark Your Calendars For Our 2021 Gala on September 30, 2021 The Bronx Is Back In Business Make sure to visit our webpage for more information.  We're going to make it a night to remember!  Honoring: Ruben Diaz Jr. - Bronx Borough President Lucy McMillan - Arnold & Porter Aurelia Greene - Former Deputy Bronx Borough President & Assemblywoman (posthumously) Bill Tipacti - Univision Marcos Crespo - Montefiore Health Systems

Job Opportunities

The Bronx Design Group

The Bronx Design Group is looking to hire! Qualifications: MUST have experience in a print shop Production Assistant needed to do finishing work in busy print shop Hours: Part Time or Full Time Call John at 718-409-9874, ext 104 or email your resume to john@bronxdesign.com

South Bronx Job Corps

Ready to be a part of something big? At the South Bronx Job Corps Center provides at-risk students with the tools they need to be successful at no-cost to them or their families. Their team members enjoy competitive wages, affordable health, dental, and prescription drug insurance, 3 weeks paid vacation, paid sick leave, 11 paid holidays, flexible schedules, 401(k) with company match, and a chance to make a difference every day! Full and part time opportunities available for many positions. Hiring immediately! Please visit: https://www.mtctrains.com/careers/ to apply.

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Affordable Housing Lottery Launches For 761 East 233rd Street In Wakefield, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 761 East 233rd Street, a seven-story residential building in Wakefield, The Bronx. Designed by Badaly Architects and developed by Stagg Group, the structure yields 102 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 35 units for residents at 120 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $56,572 to $154,680.

Residences at 761 East 233rd Street in Wakefield, The Bronx

Residents will have access to a shared laundry room, gym, a recreation room, and parking at an additional cost. Units include energy-efficient appliances, air conditioning, and hardwood floors. Tenants are responsible for electricity, which consists of electric stove, cooling, and heat.

At 120 percent of the AMI, there are four studios with a monthly rent of $1,650 for incomes ranging from $56,572 to $114,600; 28 one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,750 for incomes ranging from $60,000 to $128,880; and three two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,000 for incomes ranging from $68,572 to $154,680.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than October 25, 2021.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers On State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - AUGUST 28, 2021

 

61,932 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours  

26 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday  

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.  

"We are continuing to monitor the numbers and consulting with health experts, but we need everyone to do their part," Governor Hochul said. "We came together to help keep each other safe at the height of the pandemic, and we have to keep that collective spirit going while this virus and its Delta variant remain a threat. Get vaccinated, wear a mask, follow the basic safety guidelines - that's how we beat the virus." 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 179,342
• Total Positive - 5,524
• Percent Positive - 3.08%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.32%
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,251 (+21)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 303
• Patients in ICU - 465 (+19)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 220 (+0)
• Total Discharges - 192,111 (+269)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 26
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 43,504

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 55,453

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.

• Total vaccine doses administered - 23,533,155
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 61,932
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 345,771
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 76.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 69.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 79.3%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 71.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 64.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 58.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 66.9%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 59.6% 

Councilman Mark Gjonaj's NYC Moving Forward Week in Review - 8/27/2021

 

Dear Friends,

As we are almost nearing the end of summer, hope you and your families are doing well. The Bronx is still at the bottom of the vaccination list in NYC with only 48% of the residents vaccinated as the new variants are on the rise. Let’s continue to encourage our families and friends to get vaccinated, find a vaccination site near you at https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/locations

Yesterday my colleagues and I in the NYC Council passed critical legislation to enact meaningful reforms to the third-party food delivery sector. The laws, which passed the body with a veto proof majority, will go a long way in creating a fairer playing field. The first bill permanently capped the commissions that third-party delivery platforms can charge restaurants at 15% for delivery and 5% for all non-delivery services. The second law creates a licensing structure that requires third-party delivery platforms to obtain a license in order to operate in NYC. As the Chair of the Small Business Committee it is my mandate to ensure that small business owners have a fair chance to compete. I believe that these laws will go a long way in giving them a fighting chance.

Safely reopening schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a top priority. New York’s newly sworn-in Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined several ways she plans to ensure children safely return to the classroom in September, including plans for a mask mandate and vaccine requirement while remote learning still remains off the table.

We are glad that Hurricane Henri was downgraded into a storm last weekend causing not much damage to our district, while in the Bronx there were 18 power outages and 16 downed trees.

I am proud to co-sponsor the upcoming Movies Under the Stars with American Legion Post 620 and Westchester Square BID for veteran families and others on September 9th, September 18th and September 25th.

With the beginning of the school year in sight, Team Gjonaj has given out over 900 bookbags and supplies and counting. Please follow us on our social media, check the Week in Review or call our office for locations and times.

Please remember we are here for you, contact my office with issues or concerns at 718-931-1721 or email at MGjonaj@council.nyc.gov.

Sincerely,

NYC Councilman Mark Gjonaj

District 13, Bronx